BY DAN HILDEBRAN
The Florida State Board of Education declared the Union County and Glades County school districts in a state of financial emergency during an emergency meeting on Tuesday, March 31, voting unanimously to appoint a three-member oversight board to guide both districts toward recovery.
Deputy Commissioner of Education for Finance and Operations Suzanne Pridgen told the board that both districts had reported fund balances that had fallen below 2% of revenues and projected those balances would remain below 2% through the end of the current fiscal year.
Under Florida law, those conditions trigger a determination of financial emergency.
“I’ve reviewed both districts’ recovery plans,” Pridgen said. “However, the districts’ financial conditions have continued to deteriorate.”
Florida law requires the State Board of Education to appoint a Financial Emergency Board when a district reaches that threshold. The oversight board is charged with reviewing each district’s operations, management and finances, and making recommendations for financial recovery.
Pridgen nominated three volunteers to serve on the board: Vicki DePratter, Randy Beach and Kathy Sneeds. DePratter agreed to serve as chair, subject to the board’s approval.
DePratter is a Live Oak-based certified public accountant and served for 16 years as the chief financial officer for the Suwannee County School District.
Beach is in his 25th year as the chief financial officer of the Wakulla County School District.
Sneeds is the director of finance for the Jackson County School District, a position she has held for over 29 years.
Board members are unpaid volunteers, though their travel expenses will be covered, Pridgen noted.
The board voted unanimously to appoint DePratter as chair and Beach and Sneeds as members.
